Lonesome River Band In Tall Corn

 

Mountain Meadow Farm Corn Maze Opens Labor Day Weekend

A Rendition of the Lonesome River Band 30th Anniversary Logo
Highlighted in this year’s “Corn Acoustics!” Corn Maze Design

The 8th Annual Chinquapin Festival kicks off “Corn Maze Days” during Labor Day Weekend at Mountain Meadow Farm in Meadows of Dan, VA. Music, blacksmithing demonstrations, farm animals, crafters and a unique interactive play by Once Upon a Blue Ridge highlight the festival along with the corn maze seasonal opening.

The F.A.R.M. Team will be performing on Monday with other local bands during the weekend.  This year’s corn maze design celebrates the 30th anniversary of Lonesome River Band.

“We decided to feature my husband’s band in the corn maze design this year,” commented Sue Shelor. “30 years is a great accomplishment and we wanted to honor the history of the band and bluegrass music. We also hope to honor the many people who have been a part of LRB over the years, especially Tim Austin, who founded the band in 1982.” Sue’s husband Sammy Shelor, a Patrick County native, is now owner and band leader.

The aerial photo was taken by Hunter Shook, Sue’s son, from a helicopter piloted by Bill Bryant of Bill’s Helicopter Service based at Twin County Aviation in Hillsville, Virginia.  The Lonesome River Band logo was designed by Anthony Ladd, Kneelindesign and Anthonysp.com.

Once again the Shelors are working closely with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation as one of the locations of the Kids in Parks Track Trail. The KIP program is an initiative to encourage kids to be more active. Children, using a unique adventure brochure, will follow a self-guided TRACK trail in the corn maze. Once completed, they can go to www.KidsinParks.com and register their adventure and receive a small prize.

At “Sue’s Pumpkin Patch”, a partnership between local farmer Dewayne Cassell and Mountain Meadow Farm, kids and adults have great fun picking their own pumpkins. The patch consists of two varieties of pumpkins, one large and one small.  The pumpkins will be available for picking toward the end of September through October on the weekends when the corn maze is open or by appointment.

The Chinquapin Festival, held Labor Day Weekend, celebrates the official opening of the corn maze season. The festival is held Saturday through Monday 10 AM to 5 PM, rain or shine. Limited seating is available under the big tent and the promoter recommends bringing lawn chairs. Both the festival and the corn maze are located on Mountain Meadow Farm, 84 Concord Road, Meadows of Dan, Virginia. The “Corn Acoustics!” Corn Maze will be open on weekends from 10 AM to 5 PM from September through October, weather permitting. For weather information contact Sue Shelor at 276-952-5568.

New at the festival this year is a free performance on Sunday from 2 to 4 PM by Once Upon a Blue Ridge, a local theatre troupe. They will be presenting Animal Tails, an interactive play adapted by Peter Holland. Children will be able to act out traditional stories and songs such as The Three Little Pigs, Three Billy Goats Gruff and many more. Kids are asked to bring a paint brush to paint their own free pumpkin after the play.

For more information about the maze, pumpkin patch and festival contact Sue Shelor at 276-952-5568 or at sueshe@swva.net or check the web site at MountainMeadowCrafts.com. Spaces are still available for craft vendors. For information about the Kids in Parks Track Trail program visit the web site at kidsinparks.com.  Events subject to change without notice.